Governor of the Virgin Islands

The Governor of the Virgin Islands[1] is the representative of the British monarch in the United Kingdom's overseas territory of the British Virgin Islands. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of the governor is to act as the de facto head of state, and he or she is responsible for appointing the chief minister and the executive council.

This article is about the British official. For the American official, see List of Governors of the United States Virgin Islands.
Governor of the Virgin Islands
Standard of the Governor
Arms of the British Virgin Islands
Incumbent
John Rankin (diplomat)
since 29 January 2021
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceGovernment House, British Virgin Islands
AppointerQueen Elizabeth II
as Queen of the United Kingdom
Formation1887
First holderEdward John Cameron
as Administrator
WebsiteOffice of the Governor
The British Virgin Islands
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the British Virgin Islands
Constitution
Government
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Citizenship
Foreign relations

The current Governor is John Rankin CMG.

The Governor has his own viceregal flag, the Union Flag defaced with the territory's coat of arms. The official residence of the governor is Government House located in Road Town, Tortola.

History

The first colonial administration on the islands was the Dutch. England annexed the Islands in 1672. An administrator was appointed to the islands from 1887, and replaced by a governor in 1971 when the islands were created a distinct territory.

Prior to this date, the local council would elect one of their members to be president (see List of Presidents of the British Virgin Islands).

Up until 1971, the administrators were answerable to the Governors of the Leeward Islands, of which the British Virgin Islands formed a part.

Powers

The Governor shall be responsible for the conduct of any business of the Government of the Virgin Islands, including the administration of any department of government, with respect to the following matters:[2]

  1. External affairs;[3]
  2. Defence, including the armed forces;
  3. Internal security, including the Police Force;
  4. The terms and conditions of service of persons holding or acting in public offices, without prejudice to section 92; and
  5. The administration of the courts.

The Governor also has various powers to make and remove appointments,[4] and a power of pardon.[5]

Subject to certain exceptions, the Governor is required consult with the Cabinet in the exercise of all functions conferred on him or her by the Constitution of the British Virgin Islands or any other law for the time being in force in the British Virgin Islands.[6]

List of Administrators of the British Virgin Islands
  • Edward John Cameron (1887–1894)
  • Alexander R. Mackay (1894–1896)
  • Nathaniel George Cookman (1896–1903)
  • Robert Stephen Earl (1903–1910)
  • Thomas Leslie Hardtman Jarvis (1910–1919)
  • Herbert Walter Peebles (1919–1922)
  • R. Hargrove (1922–1923)
  • Otho Lewis Hancock (1923–1926)
  • Frank Cecil Clarkson (1926–1934)
  • Donald Percy Wailling (1934–1946)
  • John Augustus Cockburn Cruikshank (1946–1954)
  • Henry Anthony Camillo Howard (1954–1956)
  • Geoffrey Pole Allesbrook (1956–1959)
  • Gerald Jackson Bryan (1959–1962)
  • Martin Samuel Staveley (1962–1967)
  • Sir Ian Thomson (1967–1971)

List of Governors of the British Virgin Islands

Note; Acting Governors are the incumbent Deputy Governor of the British Virgin Islands who was in office when they acted as Governors.

References
  1. While the territory is commonly known as the 'British Virgin Islands', her official name is simply 'Virgin Islands'; moreover, section 35(1) of the Virgin Islands Constitution Order, 2007 stipulates that the name of the office is 'Governor of the Virgin Islands'.
  2. Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 60(1)
  3. Except in relation to certain matters delegated to the premier, including external affairs relating to: (a) the Caribbean Community, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, the Association of Caribbean States, the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or any other Caribbean regional organisation or institution; (b) other Caribbean regional affairs relating specifically to issues that are of interest to or affect the British Virgin Islands; (c) the relationship between the Virgin Islands and the United States Virgin Islands in matters of mutual interest; (d) tourism and tourism-related matters; (e) taxation and the regulation of finance and financial services; and (f) European Union matters directly affecting the interests of the Virgin Islands.
  4. Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 42.
  5. Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 43(1).
  6. Virgin Islands Constitution Order 2007, article 40(1).
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